New Food Frequency Questionnaire to Estimate Vitamin K Intake in a Mediterranean Population

Vitamin K is a multifunctional micronutrient essential for human health, and deficiency has been linked to multiple pathological conditions. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a new food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to estimate total vitamin K intake, over the course of a 30-day interval, in a Portuguese, Mediterranean-based, population. We conducted a prospective study in a non-random sample of 38 healthy adult volunteers. The FFQ was designed based on a validated Portuguese FFQ used in nationally representative studies and on literature reviews, to include foods containing & GE;5 & mu;g of vitamin K/100 g and foods with a lower vitamin K content, yet commonly included in a Mediterranean diet. Vitamin K intake was estimated from 24 h recalls and six days of food records. The final FFQ included 54 food items which, according to regression analyses, explains 90% of vitamin K intake. Mean differences in vitamin K intake based on food records (80 & PLUSMN; 47.7 & mu;g/day) and on FFQ (96.5 & PLUSMN; 64.3 & mu;g/day) were statistically non-significant. Further, we found a strong correlation between both methods (r = 0.7; p = 0.003). Our results suggest that our new FFQ is a valid instrument to assess the last 30 days of vitamin K intake in the Portuguese Mediterranean population.

Automated summary

In this study, a new food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed and validated to estimate total vitamin K intake in a Portuguese Mediterranean population over a 30-day period. The results showed that the new FFQ is a valid tool for assessing recent vitamin K intake in this population.